Deja Vu - the updates
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AtS AU/AR › Slash - Male/Male › Angel(us)/Spike(William)
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Category:
AtS AU/AR › Slash - Male/Male › Angel(us)/Spike(William)
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
52
Views:
4,112
Reviews:
2
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Angel: The Series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 84
Deja Vu
Pairing: Angel/Spike
Rating: NC17
Author: Jane Alexander
Disclaimer: No infringement of copyright is intended. The characters belong to Joss. I’m just borrowing them. I’ll try and return them undamaged, honest!
Document version: 6 January 2005
Feedback: janealexanderxxx@hotmail.com
Archived at: http://www.foreverfandom.net/viewstory.php?sid=4394
This story is AU and is a sequel to The Guy in Question.
Warning: includes character death.
Chapter 84
The outskirts of a small village somewhere in Pylea
*************
“Wait here,” Belnar said as they approached the brow of the hill they’d been climbing steadily for the past hour. “I must ensure it is safe to approach.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Spike asked as Belnar and his lieutenant disappeared from view. “It’s their bleedin’ village, isn’t it?”
“I imagine they fear incursions from the Palace,” Wesley said.
Wesley lowered his rucksack to the ground. He was glad of the opportunity to rest. He’d begun to realise about three miles back that perhaps the doctor had been right. He should have allowed himself a couple of weeks to build up his strength before attempting any prolonged form of exercise.
“If we appear unannounced, they may take us for a Trombli raiding party. Belnar is merely being cautious,” he added.
“Shouldn’t they have look-outs posted around their perimeter then?” Spike asked.
“Good point,” Angel said. “Wes?”
“Er…” Wesley began. “Last time they were in the trees… overhead.”
They all looked up. There was no one in sight.
“They’re either exceptionally skilled in camouflage or…” Wesley began.
“… their security is crap,” Spike concluded.
Despite his concern, Wesley couldn’t help but smile at Spike’s succinct summation. Whilst he had no doubt Belnar’s people would have chosen this spot carefully, and he had no reason to suppose they were in any real danger, Wesley had to admit to being surprised at the apparent absence of a guard on the encampment.
“I dare say the reception committee will become obvious once we reach the brow of the hill,” he said just as Belnar’s lieutenant reappeared to wave them forward.
“’Bout time too,” Spike muttered to himself as he hurried up the hill behind Angel.
Wesley followed, somewhat more slowly. The long trek through the forest had rather taken it out of him. He envied Angel and Spike their apparent limitless energy.
“What the fuck?” Wesley heard Spike exclaim as he crested the hill.
Spike began to laugh.
Angel had hurried over the brow of the hill but Spike had stopped and was simply starring straight ahead, toward where Wesley assumed the village lay.
“Hurry up, Wes. You gotta see this,” Spike said, turning toward him.
Spike continued to chuckle to himself. Wesley hoped Angel hadn’t tripped and fallen in his giddy excitement to get into the sunlight again. He knew he wouldn’t come to any harm, not physically anyway. Angel was well capable of surviving a few bumps and bruises, not to mention a great deal worse besides, but his pride would be wounded. Those who didn’t know him as well as Wesley did might be forgiven for thinking Spike’s teasing of Angel cruel and unmerciless but Wesley knew better: it was Spike’s way of showing affection. Of course, Angel didn’t always appreciate the humour.
“I’m afraid I’m rather running out of steam…” Wesley said, finally reaching Spike’s side.
He stopped to get his breath back and glanced in the direction Spike was pointing. The village lay about a quarter of a mile straight ahead. Fortunately it was all downhill from here on.
“Oh my!” he added on seeing the source of Spike’s amusement.
Wesley saw that Angel was seated in a chair, a garland of flowers around his neck and an elaborately embroidered animal skin cape draped around his shoulders. The chair was being held high in the air by four of the villagers who appeared intent on carrying him to what might loosely be described as the village square, that is an open space more or less enclosed on three sides. The shorter side was made up of a run of two-storey wooden buildings, fronted by a boardwalk that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Dodge City. The other two sides were made up of a collection of small, wooden cabins with thatched roofs - family dwellings presumably. In the centre of the square was a low stone dais next to which burned a fire. Above the fire some kind of animal the size of a goat was being roasted on a spit. Up wind of the fire several of the women folk were busying themselves piling dishes of food onto long trestle tables. It was difficult to see at this distance but Wesley could just about make out bread of some kind and a variety of brightly coloured fruits, or possibly vegetables, in the baskets some of the women were carrying. A dozen or more children were scampering back and forth adding brushwood to the fire. Wesley was almost certain he could smell juniper, or a close approximation thereof.
“Summat tells me they were tipped off about our arrival, eh Wes?” Spike said.
“Hmm, it certainly would appear so.”
Wesley sank to his knees. He really couldn’t stand up a moment longer. Spike spun around to face him.
“You all right, Pet?” he asked, reaching out to offer his hand. “You look a bit peaky.”
“Just out of breath,” Wesley said. “I’ll be fine if I can just rest a minute.”
“Okay, but don’t take too long, Luv. I dunno what they’ve got going with Angel but whatever it is we don’t want him taking all the credit for our heroic rescue, do we?”
Wesley laughed and Spike sat down beside him. They both stared at the scene before them.
The villagers appeared to be celebrating but what were they celebrating? Angel’s return perhaps? And yet none of these people could possibly have met Angel before.
Wesley scanned the crowds which were gathering in the square. There must be at least a hundred people, possibly as many as a hundred and fifty. Of course, there was only one person he was interested in seeing right now but where was she? Where was Fred? If they were expected then why wasn’t she standing at the front waiting to greet them?
“Remember, Wes, she hasn’t met any of us before,” Spike said.
It was uncanny the way Spike almost seemed able to read his thoughts at times like this. He really was extraordinarily perceptive for a mortal man never mind a vampire.
“Don’t expect her to recognise you,” Spike added.
“I know.”
It didn’t matter that she wouldn’t, couldn’t, recognise him. It didn’t matter if she never even looked at him. Wesley just wanted to see her one more time… alive and well… to know she was safe.
The bearers of Angel’s chair had reached the dais and were setting the chair down. Young women - no more than teenagers in all probability - began to scatter petals around his feet.
“Hey!” Spike said. “Why are they doing that? You don’t s’pose he’s tonight’s entree, do you?”
Now it was Wesley’s turn to laugh.
“No, Spike. I believe you and Angel are the only cannibals here.”
“Oi!”
“I’m sorry,” Wesley quickly added. “I didn’t mean that to come out as it sounded…”
“’S all right. I forgive you, Pet. We’ll find her, don’t you fret.”
Where was she?
“I am rather concerned. I thought Belnar said that Fred would be here, in the village.”
“He did, Pet.”
They both squinted at the crowds as more women emerged carrying platters of food and jugs of ale - at least, Wesley hoped it would be ale - to join the others in the square.
The girls surrounding Angel began to dance.
“Look, there she is!” Spike yelled, leaping to his feet and pointing beyond the largest of the tables which must now surely be groaning under the weight of all the food which had been placed on it. “And Lorne’s with her.”
Wesley followed Spike’s gaze quickly identifying Lorne. Of course, being six foot five and the only person in the assembled throng with green skin meant Lorne wasn’t hard to spot. He was accompanied by a number of women but none looked like Fred.
“Well blow me,” Spike said. “Seems like she’s somebody important in this neck of the woods.”
Lorne’s entourage were stepping aside to let someone pass through. A tall, dark-haired woman dressed in what appeared to be silks and velvet stepped forward. But surely this couldn’t be her? When they’d found Fred the first time she’d been wearing rags. No wonder he hadn’t been able to pick her out in the crowd. This woman was… well, clean… not to mention elegantly dressed. He couldn’t see much more than her head and chest but it was enough to know she was wearing anything but rags. Her hair had been plaited, the braids interwoven with ribbons and flowers, and gathered high on her head.
She was still partially hidden by the crowds but Wesley could see enough to know this was her. This was the woman of his dreams: Fred.
“They’ve got her done up like Princess Leia,” Spike said.
Wesley smiled. Spike was right. Lorne’s influence perhaps? Assuming, of course, that this was their Lorne.
She was approaching the dais. Angel stood as she approached. One of the dancing girls was now offering Angel what appeared to be a bowl… of food perhaps? Oh dear! He’d hoped Lorne would have explained that Angel was a van-tal.
“Oh bugger!” Spike suddenly exclaimed.
Wesley frowned and turned to look at Spike.
“What is it?” Wesley asked.
“Let’s get a move on, Pet,” Spike said as Wesley found himself being pulled to his feet. “We should go and rescue the Poof before he accidentally gets himself engaged to one of the bloody vestal virgins.”
Surely they couldn’t be expecting Angel to marry one of the local girls. Although, come to think of it, he’d be quite a catch. At least he would have been were it not for the fact he’d be unable to father any future champions.
“Oh, you don’t think…?” Wesley began.
“Yes, I do. Saw it on the telly,” Spike said. “They drink from the same bowl and, bingo, they’re betrothed. Why the Hell else would she be offering it to him?”
Wesley could think of a number of reasons but Spike was gone before he could voice any of them.
Spike was running now. There was no way Wesley could keep up with him so he continued to walk toward the village square at his own pace. Fred hadn’t looked in his direction yet. Angel clearly had her full attention at the moment.
Fred may not have spotted them but Lorne evidently had. He was waving both arms in the air and running toward Spike. They met at the dais. Wesley wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Lorne wrap his arms around Spike but he wasn’t expecting Lorne to lift Spike into the air and spin him around as he hugged him. Yes, this had to be their Lorne.
**************
Pairing: Angel/Spike
Rating: NC17
Author: Jane Alexander
Disclaimer: No infringement of copyright is intended. The characters belong to Joss. I’m just borrowing them. I’ll try and return them undamaged, honest!
Document version: 6 January 2005
Feedback: janealexanderxxx@hotmail.com
Archived at: http://www.foreverfandom.net/viewstory.php?sid=4394
This story is AU and is a sequel to The Guy in Question.
Warning: includes character death.
Chapter 84
The outskirts of a small village somewhere in Pylea
*************
“Wait here,” Belnar said as they approached the brow of the hill they’d been climbing steadily for the past hour. “I must ensure it is safe to approach.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Spike asked as Belnar and his lieutenant disappeared from view. “It’s their bleedin’ village, isn’t it?”
“I imagine they fear incursions from the Palace,” Wesley said.
Wesley lowered his rucksack to the ground. He was glad of the opportunity to rest. He’d begun to realise about three miles back that perhaps the doctor had been right. He should have allowed himself a couple of weeks to build up his strength before attempting any prolonged form of exercise.
“If we appear unannounced, they may take us for a Trombli raiding party. Belnar is merely being cautious,” he added.
“Shouldn’t they have look-outs posted around their perimeter then?” Spike asked.
“Good point,” Angel said. “Wes?”
“Er…” Wesley began. “Last time they were in the trees… overhead.”
They all looked up. There was no one in sight.
“They’re either exceptionally skilled in camouflage or…” Wesley began.
“… their security is crap,” Spike concluded.
Despite his concern, Wesley couldn’t help but smile at Spike’s succinct summation. Whilst he had no doubt Belnar’s people would have chosen this spot carefully, and he had no reason to suppose they were in any real danger, Wesley had to admit to being surprised at the apparent absence of a guard on the encampment.
“I dare say the reception committee will become obvious once we reach the brow of the hill,” he said just as Belnar’s lieutenant reappeared to wave them forward.
“’Bout time too,” Spike muttered to himself as he hurried up the hill behind Angel.
Wesley followed, somewhat more slowly. The long trek through the forest had rather taken it out of him. He envied Angel and Spike their apparent limitless energy.
“What the fuck?” Wesley heard Spike exclaim as he crested the hill.
Spike began to laugh.
Angel had hurried over the brow of the hill but Spike had stopped and was simply starring straight ahead, toward where Wesley assumed the village lay.
“Hurry up, Wes. You gotta see this,” Spike said, turning toward him.
Spike continued to chuckle to himself. Wesley hoped Angel hadn’t tripped and fallen in his giddy excitement to get into the sunlight again. He knew he wouldn’t come to any harm, not physically anyway. Angel was well capable of surviving a few bumps and bruises, not to mention a great deal worse besides, but his pride would be wounded. Those who didn’t know him as well as Wesley did might be forgiven for thinking Spike’s teasing of Angel cruel and unmerciless but Wesley knew better: it was Spike’s way of showing affection. Of course, Angel didn’t always appreciate the humour.
“I’m afraid I’m rather running out of steam…” Wesley said, finally reaching Spike’s side.
He stopped to get his breath back and glanced in the direction Spike was pointing. The village lay about a quarter of a mile straight ahead. Fortunately it was all downhill from here on.
“Oh my!” he added on seeing the source of Spike’s amusement.
Wesley saw that Angel was seated in a chair, a garland of flowers around his neck and an elaborately embroidered animal skin cape draped around his shoulders. The chair was being held high in the air by four of the villagers who appeared intent on carrying him to what might loosely be described as the village square, that is an open space more or less enclosed on three sides. The shorter side was made up of a run of two-storey wooden buildings, fronted by a boardwalk that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Dodge City. The other two sides were made up of a collection of small, wooden cabins with thatched roofs - family dwellings presumably. In the centre of the square was a low stone dais next to which burned a fire. Above the fire some kind of animal the size of a goat was being roasted on a spit. Up wind of the fire several of the women folk were busying themselves piling dishes of food onto long trestle tables. It was difficult to see at this distance but Wesley could just about make out bread of some kind and a variety of brightly coloured fruits, or possibly vegetables, in the baskets some of the women were carrying. A dozen or more children were scampering back and forth adding brushwood to the fire. Wesley was almost certain he could smell juniper, or a close approximation thereof.
“Summat tells me they were tipped off about our arrival, eh Wes?” Spike said.
“Hmm, it certainly would appear so.”
Wesley sank to his knees. He really couldn’t stand up a moment longer. Spike spun around to face him.
“You all right, Pet?” he asked, reaching out to offer his hand. “You look a bit peaky.”
“Just out of breath,” Wesley said. “I’ll be fine if I can just rest a minute.”
“Okay, but don’t take too long, Luv. I dunno what they’ve got going with Angel but whatever it is we don’t want him taking all the credit for our heroic rescue, do we?”
Wesley laughed and Spike sat down beside him. They both stared at the scene before them.
The villagers appeared to be celebrating but what were they celebrating? Angel’s return perhaps? And yet none of these people could possibly have met Angel before.
Wesley scanned the crowds which were gathering in the square. There must be at least a hundred people, possibly as many as a hundred and fifty. Of course, there was only one person he was interested in seeing right now but where was she? Where was Fred? If they were expected then why wasn’t she standing at the front waiting to greet them?
“Remember, Wes, she hasn’t met any of us before,” Spike said.
It was uncanny the way Spike almost seemed able to read his thoughts at times like this. He really was extraordinarily perceptive for a mortal man never mind a vampire.
“Don’t expect her to recognise you,” Spike added.
“I know.”
It didn’t matter that she wouldn’t, couldn’t, recognise him. It didn’t matter if she never even looked at him. Wesley just wanted to see her one more time… alive and well… to know she was safe.
The bearers of Angel’s chair had reached the dais and were setting the chair down. Young women - no more than teenagers in all probability - began to scatter petals around his feet.
“Hey!” Spike said. “Why are they doing that? You don’t s’pose he’s tonight’s entree, do you?”
Now it was Wesley’s turn to laugh.
“No, Spike. I believe you and Angel are the only cannibals here.”
“Oi!”
“I’m sorry,” Wesley quickly added. “I didn’t mean that to come out as it sounded…”
“’S all right. I forgive you, Pet. We’ll find her, don’t you fret.”
Where was she?
“I am rather concerned. I thought Belnar said that Fred would be here, in the village.”
“He did, Pet.”
They both squinted at the crowds as more women emerged carrying platters of food and jugs of ale - at least, Wesley hoped it would be ale - to join the others in the square.
The girls surrounding Angel began to dance.
“Look, there she is!” Spike yelled, leaping to his feet and pointing beyond the largest of the tables which must now surely be groaning under the weight of all the food which had been placed on it. “And Lorne’s with her.”
Wesley followed Spike’s gaze quickly identifying Lorne. Of course, being six foot five and the only person in the assembled throng with green skin meant Lorne wasn’t hard to spot. He was accompanied by a number of women but none looked like Fred.
“Well blow me,” Spike said. “Seems like she’s somebody important in this neck of the woods.”
Lorne’s entourage were stepping aside to let someone pass through. A tall, dark-haired woman dressed in what appeared to be silks and velvet stepped forward. But surely this couldn’t be her? When they’d found Fred the first time she’d been wearing rags. No wonder he hadn’t been able to pick her out in the crowd. This woman was… well, clean… not to mention elegantly dressed. He couldn’t see much more than her head and chest but it was enough to know she was wearing anything but rags. Her hair had been plaited, the braids interwoven with ribbons and flowers, and gathered high on her head.
She was still partially hidden by the crowds but Wesley could see enough to know this was her. This was the woman of his dreams: Fred.
“They’ve got her done up like Princess Leia,” Spike said.
Wesley smiled. Spike was right. Lorne’s influence perhaps? Assuming, of course, that this was their Lorne.
She was approaching the dais. Angel stood as she approached. One of the dancing girls was now offering Angel what appeared to be a bowl… of food perhaps? Oh dear! He’d hoped Lorne would have explained that Angel was a van-tal.
“Oh bugger!” Spike suddenly exclaimed.
Wesley frowned and turned to look at Spike.
“What is it?” Wesley asked.
“Let’s get a move on, Pet,” Spike said as Wesley found himself being pulled to his feet. “We should go and rescue the Poof before he accidentally gets himself engaged to one of the bloody vestal virgins.”
Surely they couldn’t be expecting Angel to marry one of the local girls. Although, come to think of it, he’d be quite a catch. At least he would have been were it not for the fact he’d be unable to father any future champions.
“Oh, you don’t think…?” Wesley began.
“Yes, I do. Saw it on the telly,” Spike said. “They drink from the same bowl and, bingo, they’re betrothed. Why the Hell else would she be offering it to him?”
Wesley could think of a number of reasons but Spike was gone before he could voice any of them.
Spike was running now. There was no way Wesley could keep up with him so he continued to walk toward the village square at his own pace. Fred hadn’t looked in his direction yet. Angel clearly had her full attention at the moment.
Fred may not have spotted them but Lorne evidently had. He was waving both arms in the air and running toward Spike. They met at the dais. Wesley wasn’t the least bit surprised to see Lorne wrap his arms around Spike but he wasn’t expecting Lorne to lift Spike into the air and spin him around as he hugged him. Yes, this had to be their Lorne.
**************